Meeting the Global Development and Humanitarian Challenges of our Time: Assessing the Biden-Harris Administration’s First 100 Days

By: Conor Savoy
May 12, 2021

The Biden-Harris administration took office in a turbulent time amidst cascading global challenges. The health and socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 have deepened already-existing inequalities and reversed hard-fought development and humanitarian gains from the past decades. Mounting great power competition, climate change, and the increasing concentration of the world’s poor in fragile states, all require an … Continue reading Meeting the Global Development and Humanitarian Challenges of our Time: Assessing the Biden-Harris Administration’s First 100 Days

Key Lessons for Effective Foreign Assistance from USAID’s COVID-19 Response

By: Nora O’Connell, Save the Children; Justin Fugle, Plan International USA; and Lori Rowley, The Lugar Center
February 25, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the health and health systems of countries around the world and taken a serious toll on economies and societies. The World Bank estimates that an additional 100 million people have been pushed into poverty due to the economic impact of the pandemic. 130 million people in three dozen countries including … Continue reading Key Lessons for Effective Foreign Assistance from USAID’s COVID-19 Response

MFAN Welcomes Representative Barbara Lee as New Chair of House SFOPs

By: MFAN
January 26, 2021

January 26, 2021 (WASHINGTON) – This statement is delivered on behalf of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) by Co-Chairs Lester Munson, Larry Nowels, and Tessie San Martin. The Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) welcomes Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) as the new Chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPs). … Continue reading MFAN Welcomes Representative Barbara Lee as New Chair of House SFOPs

MFAN Calls on President-Elect Biden to Withdraw Trump Rescissions Request

By: MFAN
January 19, 2021

January 19, 2021 (WASHINGTON) — This statement is delivered on behalf of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network by Co-Chairs Lester Munson, Larry Nowels and Tessie San Martin. As one of his first acts in office, the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) calls on President-elect Biden to withdraw the Trump administration’s last-minute rescissions package canceling $27.4 … Continue reading MFAN Calls on President-Elect Biden to Withdraw Trump Rescissions Request

MFAN Welcomes the Nomination of Ambassador Samantha Power as USAID Administrator

By: MFAN
January 13, 2021

January 13, 2021 (WASHINGTON) – This statement is delivered on behalf of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) by Co-Chairs Lester Munson, Larry Nowels, and Tessie San Martin. The Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) commends President-Elect Biden for the nomination of Ambassador Samantha Power to serve as the next Administrator of the U.S. Agency for … Continue reading MFAN Welcomes the Nomination of Ambassador Samantha Power as USAID Administrator

MFAN Publishes Recommendations for a New Presidential Administration

By: MFAN
November 18, 2020

November 18, 2020 (WASHINGTON) – This statement is delivered on behalf of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) by Co-Chairs Lester Munson, Larry Nowels and Tessie San Martin. Today, the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network released foreign aid policy recommendations for the new presidential administration. The recommendations cover early actions that the new administration should consider immediately, including … Continue reading MFAN Publishes Recommendations for a New Presidential Administration

MFAN Applauds Release of FY21 Senate SFOPS Bill

By: MFAN
November 10, 2020

November 10, 2020 (WASHINGTON) – This statement is delivered on behalf of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) by Co-Chairs Lester Munson, Larry Nowels and Tessie San Martin. Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its Fiscal Year 2021 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill. This bill is a significant new investment in American foreign assistance, … Continue reading MFAN Applauds Release of FY21 Senate SFOPS Bill

Principles to Practice: How local organizations and INGOs are working locally for an effective pandemic response

By: MFAN
September 24, 2020

As the predominant global development and humanitarian donor, the U.S. government will shape the global response to COVID-19, helping to save lives and curtail economic losses across the world. The United States leading an effective COVID-19 response in the developing world will protect the American people by limiting the resurgence of the disease, mitigating the … Continue reading Principles to Practice: How local organizations and INGOs are working locally for an effective pandemic response

Working Locally for an Effective Pandemic Response

By: MFAN
September 3, 2020

There are six areas that the U.S. government should focus on in order to lead a successful pandemic response globally. One of these critical areas is working directly with local governments and civil society organizations. With transportation routes closed and supply chains disrupted, U.S. assistance must be leveraged to help communities protect their own health … Continue reading Working Locally for an Effective Pandemic Response

The Development Finance Corporation at Six Months: Early Successes and Challenges

By: MFAN
July 15, 2020

On October 25, 2018, President Trump signed the BUILD Act, one of the most significant reforms to U.S. foreign assistance in decades. The BUILD Act combined the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) with USAID’s Development Credit Authority (DCA) into a new U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The new DFC has a strengthened mandate to … Continue reading The Development Finance Corporation at Six Months: Early Successes and Challenges